« Back to Provision

Demobilization – 1991

The Bicesse Accord stipulated the demobilization of all UNITA forces not incorporated into the Angolan armed forces. UNITA troops were scheduled to be encamped, disarmed, and finally discharged from the UNITA army or integrated into the Angolan military. The encampment process began in 1991 with the establishment of the Commission for the Formation of the Armed Forces (CCFA), which oversaw the formation of barracks to hold troops in preparation for disarmament and demobilization. The functional regulations for the Commission were formally approved on June 27,¹ and the CCFA then began inspecting barracks in preparation for troop assembly.² The UN Secretary-General reported that as of October 22, 1991, only 95,634 troops (less than 60% of total forces) were contained.³ By this date, 68,666 of the government’s total 115,640 forces had assembled, and 26,968 of UNITA’s total 49,800 forces had assembled.⁴ No official discharge occurred in 1991.⁵

¹ “Angola’s CCPM approves functional regulations,” Xinhua General News Service, June 27, 1991.
² “Angola joint commission meets to discuss control measures,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 8, 1991.
³ “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II) (For the period 31 May 1991-25 October 1991),” UN Security Council, October 31, 1991.
⁴ “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II) (For the period 31 May 1991-25 October 1991),” UN Security Council, October 31, 1991.
⁵ “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II) (For the period 31 May 1991-25 October 1991),” UN Security Council, October 31, 1991.